Madeira Island is located off the coast of West Africa, along the Canary Islands, and is part of Portugal. The island is famous for its extraordinary mountains, which can be easily explored by foot. In this article I will tell you all about the best hikes in Madeira which left unforgettable memories from my trip to the island.
If you love the outdoors, Madeira will surprise you. Hiking in the mountains, I often felt that I was in a scene from the Jurassic Park movie. The lush vegetation, the high cliffs, and most over, the stunning views over the sea at sunrise, make hiking in Madeira so special.
I flew to Madeira directly from London Gatwick, to Funchal, the largest town on the island. Landing here is quite the experience, as the airport has been built over water and, due to the strong high winds, it can be a challenge. Thankfully, my flights had smooth landings and take offs.
If you are in Europe on a budget and are looking for an amazing destination with incredible outdoors, Madeira Island is a great choice. Because of its sub-tropical climate, you can visit Madeira year round. It rarely gets cold at sea level, in Funchal. For hiking in Madeira, the best times are spring and autumn. In winter, in the peaks, in may snow. Whilst many of the best hikes in Madeira can be attempted on your own, some do require a guide because of the rough terrain and the steep ridges.
To move around Madeira, it is recommended to hire a car. I recommend a small car with a powerful engine, as some of the roads going up the mountains are very steep, and a Fiat Panda, which might be cheaper, won’t be able to do the climbs. If you are planning to travel by bus, here is the full bus network of Madeira.
Hiking in Madeira, Portugal
I spent 2 weeks in Portugal, and a week of that was in Madeira Island for one specific reason – to go hiking. And that is exactly what I did. Hiking in Madeira is one of the best I’ve done. From semi-tropical environments to desert-like terrain and mountainous peaks, there’s nothing you can’t find when it comes to hiking.
The fact that the local government made sure that the trails are well-marked makes hiking even more hassle-free for those who have never been here. During your research, you’ll notice that the trails are called “PR”; this is just an easier way to name the trails and tell how popular it is.
For example, Vereda do Areeiro is PR1 since it’s the most popular hike. This makes Pico Ruivo PR1.2 the second most popular, and tells you that you can trek Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo as a combo.
The Best Hikes in Madeira:
PR8 – Ponta de Sao Lourenco
Photo Credit: Mary Charie with permission to use
This was my second best hike in Madeira Island, but I’m listing it in the top position because it’s the most popular trail here.
Ponta de Sao Lourenco in Madeira is a hiker’s dream. It’s not like the rest of the island. You’ll walk along cliffs and see the infinite ocean on both sides of the trail. The terrain is filled with lava rock formations and a desert-like environment you won’t find anywhere else in Madeira.
The path is easy, but there are some ups and downs, so make sure you have good shoes. However, the last 500 metres is along a sandy, slippery, and super steep path, if you really want to get to the end. On the other hand, there’s a cafe before this section where you can take a break and enjoy the beautiful views.
The hike will take around 3 hours out and back, or more if you plan to go slower. There’s also a path that leads down the rocky beach at the end. If you plan to do that, expect to add another 30 minutes or more on your hike.
You can get here by driving your rented car or getting on bus #113, which costs €4. Driving is only 35 minutes, while the bus takes around 45 minutes to an hour due to plenty of stops along the way.
- Total distance: 6 km
- Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Map: click here
PR1 – Pico do Arieiro
When it comes to incredible views of the islands and the ocean, Pico do Arieiro is the spot for you. This is the third-highest peak on the island, offering insane views and bringing you above the clouds. The terrain is challenging, with many ups and downs on rocky steps if you want to go far from the starting point.
However, you don’t have to work too hard to enjoy this place. It’s because the trail starts right at the top. You can get here by car or organised transfer. Park your vehicle, and walk a short distance to get to the observation deck cafe.
My recommendation is to arrive at Pico do Arieiro before sunrise, to witness the most incredible scenery come to life in front of you. Beware, it will be very cold, but so worth it. I visited Madeira in June and arrived at the top at 4:15 am. It is very easy to hire a driver or taxi to bring you here at this time. The ride from Funchal to Pico do Arieiro takes around 40 minutes. I found a good spot to sit down, and then waited. The sunrise was simply breathtaking. The sun rose from under the fluffy clouds, below my feet, engulfing the entire scenery with a warm, orange light. As the clouds moved, allowing me to see the ocean below. I wonder if this is what heaven looks like.
This hike is recommended for all ages. Enjoy your breakfast at the cafe with a great view, and admire those seeking a more challenging trek as they prepare for the trip.
On the other hand, if you want to experience the terrain but not walk too much, hike the Miradouro do Ninho da Manta for an even better view, and then turn around to the car park. If you do that, make sure you’re wearing proper hiking shoes and even a pair of trekking poles.
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Map: click here
PR 1.2 – Pico Ruivo
Photo Credit: Mary Charie with permission to use
This is the highest peak in Madeira, featuring a mountainous and rocky path. Along the trail, you’ll also get the chance to spot native animals and plants on the island. You can park your car here at the beginning of the trail.
The hike is only about 2.5 km, which takes about 45 minutes or an hour and 30 minutes for both ways. Before you approach the steep stairs, there’s a small cafe where you can use the bathroom for a fee or buy drinks or snacks. However, there are no garbage cans, so you must carry your rubbish until you’re back in the parking lot.
Dreamy clouds, bridges for better views, and heartstopping cliff edges surround the mountain’s peak. The hike from the parking lot to the top is much more challenging than Pico do Arieiro. There are more rocky, steep stairs, slippery or muddy areas, and being on a cliff edge is not recommended for young children or those with vertigo.This is one of those hikes where it’s better to hire a guide to lead.
- Total distance: 5 km
- Time: 2 hours to 2 hours and 30 minutes, out-and-back
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Map: click here
Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo
For those who want to conquer high altitudes, peak summits, and longer treks, this one’s for you. The entire trail is around 6 to 7 km and takes around 4 to 5 hours, depending on your speed. This is a more challenging hike for those who are not hiking enthusiasts.
This terrain has a lot of ups and downs and incredibly steep stairs. Packing trekking poles will significantly help you with stability and weights on your knees. There is not much shade, so make sure you put on plenty of sunscreen and have layers of clothing since the peak of Pico Ruivo can get cold.
This is easily one of my favourite hikes from all the Madeira Island trails. It’s so challenging, offering stunning views and encounters with different wild animals and birds.
Since this is a point A to B trek, transportation can be a bit of a challenge. If you’re driving to Pico do Arieiro, this means that you need someone to drive the car to the end of the trail, unless you don’t mind hiking back to the start point.
What I did was book a tour, which came with a guide and transportation. They picked me up at my hotel, brought me to Pico do Arieiro, and then the van waited at Pico Ruivo. I was on a group hike though, so we had to go at the same speed. You can also simply book the transportation. They’ll do the same minus the guide so you can hike at your own speed. However, for this hike, a guide is recommended.
- Total distance: 11 km
- Time: 6 hours
- Difficulty: Intermediate
P10 – Ribeiro Frio To Portela
Portela is a small town in the west of Madeira, between Ribeiro Frio and Machico. It’s not a busy area, but a popular one for mountain bikers. There’s an observation tower along the Portela trail, about an hour in. However, it’s been closed, so hiking this trail alone won’t really make much sense.
Instead, you can trek from Ribeiro Frio to Portela or Portela to Ribeiro Frio. This is what I did. One thing that made me decide to hike this trail was the elevation gain. It’s around 300 m elevation from Portela to Ribeiro Frio. I personally love climbing steps as it raises my heart a little bit, however, I don’t enjoy going downhill.
Plus, this approach allowed me to hike to Vereda dos Balcoes, which is a 3 km roundtrip as a finisher.
The path is similar to a semi-tropical one, with lots of trees, plants, and flowers. The entire trail is well-shaded. No sun also means it gets quite cold; it’s called “frio” – “cold” for a reason. It’s important to wear layers.
Another fun part of this trail is the “Ribeiro Frio (cold river)”. This is a man made canal that directs the water from the mountains down to the valley, also known as a levada. The water has some fish swimming inside, which were fun to watch.
This river makes this hike easy too, because I just followed it until I reached Ribeiro Frio. You’ll see it right from the Portela starting point, a little downhill steam. Depending on the month you go, it might be dry initially.
Hiking this entire trail means that you will not end where you started, so you will have to plan your transport ahead. If you’re driving from your starting point, you need someone to bring the car to the endpoint.
I chose to take a taxi from Funchal to Portela. You can also take bus #53 for €3, but the schedules didn’t align for my schedule. The plan was to take the bus from Ribeiro Frio instead. However, I finished my hike an hour later than I thought. With no taxi in sight, I hitchhiked my way back to Funchal.
There’s a cafe and a restaurant at Ribeiro Frio (none in Portela), so you can plan to take a break while waiting for the bus.
- Total distance: 11 km
- Additional distance: 3 km with roundtrip to Balcoces
- Time: 4 hours and 30 minutes (including Balcoes)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Map: click here
PR11 – Vereda dos Balcões
This is the easiest best hike in Madeira. If you are looking for an uncomplicated hike, you can check out Verada dos Balcoes, which is a short walk suitable for all ages. This is perfect for bringing your young children or looking for an easy stroll with your grandparents with rewarding views.
Balcoes is famous for the viewing platform from where, on a clear day, you can see the three highest peaks in Madeira. Unfortunately during my trip they were covered by low clouds.
- Total distance: 3 km roundtrip
- Time: 45 minutes
- Difficulty: easy
- Map: click here
PR10 – Ribeiro Frio
Plenty of people were only doing Ribeiro Frio, especially those who came with a car. There’s no specific “turnaround point”, so you must set one for yourself. For example, you can hike for an hour and then turn around.
This is still a fun hike since you’ll get to see large trees and caves, follow the river with fish in it, and meet other hikers. If you go faster than me, you can probably get from Ribeiro Frio to Portela and back in 6 or 7 hours.
You can take bus #103 for €3 if you’re coming from Funchal or take a taxi to Ribeiro Frio.
- Difficulty: easy
- Map: click here
PR6 – Levada do Risco to Lagoa das 25 Fontes
Another very popular hike in Madeira is this out-and-back trail from Risco to 25 Fontes. This hike is so famous that there are plenty of ways to get about it.
For example, once you get to Rabacal, you can hike down to the Levada do Risco and then hike back up. That’s about 1 hour and 30 minutes. It’s steep and challenging for those who are not very active.
On the other hand, you can hike down the same trail and then pay €5 for a minibus to take you back to the top.
Another option is to go all the way from Rabacal to Levada Risco, then to 25 Fontes, and finally back to Rabacal. That will be the most challenging, which takes 3 hours and 30 minutes to 4 hours.
You’ll see various trees, see beautiful waterfalls, and even spot some wild animals. There are plenty of amazing views where you can see waterfalls. However, there’s also an 800m tunnel, so make sure to bring a torch.
This is a busy trail, so if you’re driving, get there before 10 AM to secure a spot for your vehicle and avoid the buses unloading tourists.
- Total distance: 12 km including 25 Fontes, 2 km if only going down to Levada do Risco
- Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes to 3 hours and 30 minutes
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Map: click here
Vereda do Larano to Miradouro do Pico do Facho or to Porta da Cruz
If you want a hike that is similar to Sao Lourencio but with fewer people, this is a great choice.
The easier one is from Vereda do Larano to Miradouro do Pico do Facho. It’s a trail along the coast that leads to an observation deck. It’s very easy, suitable for young children and those who want a leisurely walk with a stunning view. But if you suffer from vertigo, this might not be for you. You can also view the airport from here and watch planes land on the unique over the water runway.
On the other hand, if you want more challenges, you can start at Vereda do Larano and end in Praia da Maiata or Porto da Cruz, which is located on the north of the island. Keep in mind that this is not an official trail, so there are not many markings.
You will begin at a tunnel along ER109, so bring a torch. You’ll hike through villages and some steep hills and then finish off on flat terrain. Reward yourself with some yummy traditional Madeiran food in the little town of Porto da Cruz.
I don’t recommend this hike if you plan to bring your car because it will take you too long to get back to your car. Plus, there’s no official car park, only a space off the road along the highway.
Instead, take bus #113 for €4, and get off before entering the tunnel to Canical (mention this to the driver). At Porto da Cruz, you can take the bus #53 or #208 back to Funchal for €7.
- Total distance: 13 km | 4 hours
- Distance to Miradouro do Pico do Facho: 1.5 km | 20 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Maps: to Miradouro do Pico do Facho or to Porto da Cruz
Final Thoughts
Google Maps was actually super helpful in planning my hiking trip to Madeira, alongside the awesome local government’s site, which is filled with information about various trails, which buses to use, and what to expect.
If I plan another vacation that includes hiking, I’ll definitely go back to Madeira since there are so many trails that I missed. I hope my best hikes in Madeira article was useful to you, and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts in the comments section, about how your trip went.
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